With the stresses of modern-day life, it’s never the wrong time to launch a spa trek across Essex and Hertfordshire and to check yourself in for a restful retreat at an exquisite venue where you can relax, breathe and reboot…
We probably have the ancient Greeks to thank for the spa culture we enjoy today. They were the first to realise that spas and bathing could be used for therapeutic purposes, not simply for hygiene and cleanliness. The Romans ran with the notion, creating thermal baths at natural mineral and hot springs. Before long spas began springing up all over Europe as places to socialise, relax and receive medical treatment.
Today of course spas are still locations for lazy, leisurely stays and places to enjoy massage and cosmetic treatments but these days we see them less as social sites but as retreats from the rat race to which we can escape, switch off and recharge our batteries.
People travel all over the world to access the best and most exotic spas so it’s no surprise that wellness tourism is a £1 trillion dollar industry. Thankfully, we have a variety of supreme spa hotels and venues closer to home in Essex and in Hertfordshire where everyone can enjoy a stellar spa adventure.
Greenwoods Hotel and Spa in Stock, near Billericay, offers a variety of spa packages to cater for everyone. The country hotel, which also boasts an award-winning restaurant, hosts pamper days and breaks for couples, for mums-to-be, brides-to-be and even for the man in your life whose wellbeing needs can often get overlooked. Use of the hotel’s leisure facilities including the 20m lap indoor pool, jacuzzi, hot tub, steam room, sauna, relaxation areas and fitness suite, is included in all overnight stays and spa days.
For a spot of romance the ‘Sunset Evening For Two’ package sees couples getting to use all the facilities from 5pm to 10pm then get 10 per cent off food in the award-winning Ellis’ Restaurant, all for a price of £84.99 per couple. greenwoodshotel.com
We all need to take a deep breath now and then but at Down Hall Hotel and Spa in Hatfield Heath they are really taking it up a notch with a special ‘Breathwork Weekend’ spa package. Guided by an expert, participants will learn various techniques for conscious, controlled breathing that can promote relaxation, meditation, calm, energy and clarity.
Breathwork practise will include yogi, kapalbhati, anulom vilom and ujjayi techniques. The package also includes a spa treatment, delicious dinner, a sound bath session, yoga and meditation. This package is available on December 6 and February 21 at £205 per person, based on sharing a double or twin room. downhall.co.uk
If you appreciate the healing powers of water, a unique spa package at the Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Thorpe-le-Soken will really float your boat. Book in for the overnight ‘Wave Touch Spa Break’ and not only will you get to stay in one of the hotel’s lovely rooms and enjoy a three course dinner, you’ll get to engage your senses with a 20 minute treatment on dry water aqua bed. The bed utilises high pressured water jets that glide along the surface, providing a soothing head-to-toe body massage while keeping you comfortably dry. Aqua massages offer numerous benefits such as improved blood circulation, reduced muscle tension, and even targeting deeper tissues. Optional red light therapy is available to stimulate collagen production and promote anti-ageing. Package from £174.50 per person based on two people sharing. lifehouse.co.uk
Meanwhile, to really escape from the daily grind head to the Glass House Retreat in Bulphan where you’ll feel chilled out from the moment you arrive. The purpose-built retreat is designed to offer the best space for holistic wellbeing. Flooded with natural light, clean lines and modern finishes, the venue radiates wellness, self-care and relaxation. The ‘Refresh Your Wellbeing’ package features an overnight stay in a Superior Glass house Room, a 25-minute facial and full use of the spa’s exercise and mindfulness classes. A 100 per cent plant-based dinner and breakfast are included. Package available Monday to Thursday for £480 per couple and £530 per couple from Friday’s to Sundays. glasshouseretreat.co.uk
If you want to splash out on a luxury retreat, the Ultimate Spa Break package at The Grove set in the rolling countryside of Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire, beckons. At the grade II listed hotel, you’ll get to indulge in an overnight spa retreat, including breakfast, lunch at Sequoia Kitchen, a three-course dinner, an 80-minute treatment and use of the facilities at the sequoia spa. From £413.75 per person for the package, you will stay in a cosy west wing classic bedroom. thegrove.co.uk
